Blog# 171 Cat-Cow-Horse-Cobra
Exercise is an important part of maintaining good health. Some of the most interesting and beneficial forms of exercise were developed centuries or even millennia ago, in Chinese, Indian and other ancient cultures. Some of these exercises were discovered while watching animals move in their native habitats. These exercises help support musculoskeletal health, flexibility and strength as well as improve functioning of various internal organs and circulation of blood, lymph and energy (Qi or Prana).
Many people are familiar with the Yoga pose Cat/Cow. It is done on hands and knees and, when done correctly, often helps alleviate and even prevent back and neck pain. The Horse stance, a foundational standing posture in Tai Chi and Chi Gong, helps improve martial art skills as well as improve stability and posture when done regularly. The Cobra, one of my favorite poses, improves upper body strength, heart and lung health, spinal alignment, and relaxation, especially of the lower body. Cobra helps sharpen the mind, calm the nervous system and harmonize the endocrine system. The five senses can benefit when Cobra is done correctly, on a daily basis. Emotions can be calmed, anxiety and depression both diminished and sometimes totally released. It is one of the most powerful Yoga poses. Most people are not aware of the details involved in doing this exercise correctly. Cut and paste the links below into your browser to get a reasonably good description and demonstration of the Cobra pose. These two demonstrations are quite different, regarding this pose, yet both can be helpful. Choose which one appeals to you, or combine the features of both. In addition to the descriptions, I will give you some more information regarding Cobra pose.
Cobra is best done slowly both rising and then descending, and the mind should be moving along each separate vertebra as well as the sacrum and the coccyx. Rising the mind ends at the coccyx. Then, descending, the mind focuses first on the coccyx (tail bone), then sacrum and then along the five lumbar, then twelve thoracic and finally seven cervical vertebrae, finally ending at the top cervical vertebra. The slower this is done, without hurting yourself, the better for your spine, nervous system heart, lungs and much more. Three is the ideal number of times to do Cobra, though you might have to build up to this. The three repetitions should be done in the same time slot, and the stomach should not be full, but rather, fairly empty.. It is best to do Cobra on a mat that is not too firm or too soft. After several months of daily practice, you may experience improvement in spinal strength and comfort, increased calmness of nervous system, more balanced thyroid function, improved digestion and elimination functions, increased vital capacity, and more. It is important to be completely present when you practice this pose, only focusing on being here and now. Breathing should be relaxed, slow and only through the nose.
This blog’s offer: feel free to contact me with any questions regarding the cobra pose, if they have not been answered by these two videos. Happy Spring/Summer.
Dr. Elaine Wagner Holistic Health 